The Colombo High Court has sentenced a drug trafficker to 15 years of rigorous imprisonment for attempting to kill a police officer by running him over with a vehicle during an anti-narcotics operation.
The incident occurred on 17 January 2008 in the Nadiyawala area of Dehiwala, when officers from the Police Narcotics Bureau signalled the suspect, who was transporting a stock of drugs in a car, to stop. Instead, he attempted to run over a sergeant, causing serious injuries.
Delivering the judgment on 2 October, High Court Judge Lanka Jayaratne ruled that the charges brought against the accused had been proven beyond reasonable doubt. In addition to the prison sentence, a fine of Rs. 10,000 was imposed.
The Attorney General had filed charges against the accused for attempted murder and causing grievous injury to a police officer engaged in duty.
Appearing on behalf of the Attorney General, State Counsel Kalan Kothelawala told court that drug traffickers have become a plague to the nation and that such violent acts against law enforcement officers pose a grave threat to the rule of law. He urged the court to impose the maximum possible punishment.
In delivering the sentence, Judge Jayaratne emphasised that individuals who endanger the lives of officers committed to combating illegal activities and narcotics trafficking represent a serious threat to justice and will receive no leniency from the courts.
